Elastic tap for soles of boots or shoes.



No. 745,792. PATENTED DEC. 1, 190,3.

4 W. 0. CORMAN. Y

ELASTIC TAP FOR SOLBS 0F BOOTS 0R SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

WIT E5555: I JEHTUFK:

UNITED STATES ?atented December 1, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

ELASTlC TAP FOR SOLES OF BOOTS OR SH OES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,792, dated December1, 1903.

Application filed July 16, 1902. Serial No. 115,792. (No model.)

T0 61/ whont it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM (J. CORMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Rochester, in the county of Strafford and State of NewHampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Elastic Taps forSoles of Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact specification.

This invention relates to rubber taps adapted to be secured by screws ornails to the under or outer surface of the soles of boots or shoes,either by the consumer-that is to say, the weareror by a shoemaker.

The invention relates particularly to that class of elastic taps whichmay be termed pneumatic, being formed with a recess or chambercontaining air, whereby the elasticity of the rubber is supplemented byan aircushion.

The nature of the invention is fully described below, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of theupper side 'i. a, the side next the sole when in position of my improvedelastic tap. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of a boot or shoewith my tap in position. Fig. 3 is a cross vertical section of a portionof a boot or shoe with my tap applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a crosssectionof the elastic tap removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The tap is formed of an integral piece of rubber of suitable softnessand elasticity. It is made somewhat smaller in area than the surface ofthe sole to which it is to be applied, and it consists of aconcavo-convex main portion a, with its periphery or edge formed up intoa substantially vertical lip or flange b, a central longitudinalsupportingrib d, and supporting-blocks 6, extending up from the portiona and having flat tops of even height, said tops, however, beingsomewhat lower than the upper edge of the lip or flange when said lip orflange isin its normal position. The supporting-blockse and the rib (Zare all integral with the tap, and the said supporting-blocks may be ofany desired number and are located next the peripheral lip I).

In practical operation the pad is applied to thesole by meansofscrewscrnails,(preferably screws,) as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. Itis advisable toapply nuts, as f, to the screw holes, said nuts being provided duringthe process of vulcanization. this invention. When the tap is securedtightly to the sole,the lip or flange b is flattened outward against theunder side of the sole and the weight of the body is supported by theblocks and the central rib d. The flattened lip or flange makes a broadand air-tight joint, and thus provides an air-cushion in the chamberbetween the portion a and the sole. As the wearer walks the somewhatdownwardly-protruding concavo-convex portion a is pressed up until thesole rests firmly on the blocks 6 and rib d, and thus the air-cushion isbrought into use, so that the elasticity of the rubber is supplementedby that of the air-cushion and both are utilized. The tap is intended tobe somewhat smaller in area than the sole to which it is to be securedin order that the flange can be pressed and spread outward withoutextending beyond the edge of the sole, and it is evident that the tapmay be applied or removed without the aid of a shoemaker.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rubber sole for boots and shoes comprising a concavo-convex bodyportion having a surrounding flange, and blocks rising from the concavesurface and extending at suitable distances apart around the same, and acentral longitudinal rib having inclined sides and end portions, saidflange, blocks and rib being formed integral with the body portion,substantially as specified.

2. An elastic rubber tap for soles, comprising the substantiallyconcavo-convex main portion a, supporting-blocks extending up from saidmain portion near its periphery, a central longitudinal rib extending upfrom said portion, said blocks and rib being of substantially evenheight, and a peripheral lip or flange 1) extending normally up from themain portion at its edge to a height somewhatabove the blocks and rib,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM (J. CORMAN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM DELANEY, JOHN M. HANSON.

Their use is not, however, new in

